Nano Charger problem?: LED does not come on

[post tenebras]

I received a new Nano Charger and two Battery Station protected RCR123s this week. The charger worked as expected, twice, but now, when I try to recharge a battery, the LED is not coming on at all. Is this something that can normally happen or may I have a defective unit?

Thanks.

 

[45/70]

I bought a nano 10440 charger. The first one did prettty much the same as yours. I contacted the seller and he sent me a new one. It did pretty much the same thing. The seller ended up giving me a credit. Finally, I came across a used one, and it works just fine!

Nano chargers seem to be hit and miss. When they work, they're great but......

Dave

 

[labrat]

The Nano chargers are nice and trusty small devices, and because of their low amperes output, quite safe to use also (but they don't stop at 4.20 Volts, so use a voltmeter to securely check and stop the charge of the cells if you want the cells to be fully topped off!).
But they are cheap, and not very high quality!
I have had (and still have) a few of these, and some have had this issue (the LED not coming ON when connected to the grid).
The problem is the metal springs inside that connects to the foldable legs that goes into the power-outlet.
You need to open the charger, carefully pry the plastic-cover open, and bend the metal-springs a bit such as to make them push harder to the foldable legs when you fold the legs out.
I don't recommend this if you have no skills or knowledge with some DIY!
Get someone that does to help you!
But once this procedure is done, they last for ages.

 

[45/70]

The problem is the metal springs inside that connects to the foldable legs that goes into the power-outlet.
You need to open the charger, carefully pry the plastic-cover open, and bend the metal-springs a bit such as to make them push harder to the foldable legs when you fold the legs out.

While you've got it apart, It'd be a really good idea to re-solder all the cold joints while you're in there. When you've got it all back together and you're ready to test it out with a cell, try clicking your heels together three times and say "I wish my nano to function properly....I wish my nano to function properly....I wish my nano to function properly". Hey, it worked for Dorothy!

Actually, I'd just contact the vendor. If you bought it at Battery Station, their customer service is top notch.

Dave

 

[NigelBond]

My Nano charger was like that too when i bought it. It worked a few times then stoped making contact internally. I could hear something rattling inside when i shook it. I poped it open and found both the springs that made contact with the external plug legs had fallen off. I fixed it by resoldering it. This was a few years ago and i dont use it anymore so im not sure if the nano is pried open or if there are screws.

 

[labrat]

My Nano charger was like that too when i bought it. It worked a few times then stoped making contact internally. I could hear something rattling inside when i shook it. I poped it open and found both the springs that made contact with the external plug legs had fallen off. I fixed it by resoldering it. This was a few years ago and i dont use it anymore so im not sure if the nano is pried open or if there are screws.

They are still glued together.
Screws is too expensive, also need another machine to put the screws in and tighten them.
Production cost will rise to the skies!
Glue is inexpensive.

 

[post tenebras]

Thanks! You guys are awesome! By delicately wiggling it, I was able to get it to work once more, but if I barely touch it and move it one way or the other, it loses the connection.

It's glued together. Rather than pry it apart, I'm going to return it for exchange, since it's brand new. I really like the form factor of this design; I just hope the next one works better.

 

[zipplet]

Thanks for the tip, just opened my nano charger and bent the spring terminals. It used to sometimes go out if I inserted the cell in such a way that it pushed the cell contacts with reasonable pressure, which I put down to the PCB moving around.

Opening the charger and bending the AC contact springs and glueing it back together has fixed it